In the latest episode of "CBS Mornings" "The State of Spirituality with Lisa Ling," Lutheran pastor Drew Stever shares his journey as a transgender man and how he's creating an inclusive community at his Hollywood church.
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The Southwest California Synod, led by Bishop Brenda Bos, is a thriving community of over 100 congregations across nine conferences. As a Reconciling In Christ Synod, they champion LGBTQIA+ inclusion, environmental stewardship through Lutherans Restoring Creation, and economic justice as part of the Jubilee USA Network.
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The Southwest California Synod presents We are the Lord’s: A Conversation on Grief, Death, and Life, Saturday, 10/29,2022, 10am-1pm MST/PDT, 11am-2pm MDT, via Zoom. This Zoom event featuring Rev. Francisco Javier Goitía Padilla is for rostered leaders, seminarians, interns, and congregational leadership in general.
To register, please contact Pastor Abel Arroyo Traverso, Southwest California Synod’s Assistant to the Bishop for Faith Formation and In House Theologian at abel.at@socalsynod.org or call 626-665-9133.
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The Southwest California Synod and the African Descent Lutheran Association, LA, present a Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration and Commemoration Worship Service, January 16, 2022, 4pm MST, 3pm MST, at adla-la.org. Guest preacher: The Rev. Patricia Ann Curtis Davenport, Bishop, Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod.
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ELCA’s Region 2 celebrates the installation of Bishop Brenda Bos in the Southwest California Synod, and Bishop Megan Rohrer in the Sierra Pacific Synod. Check out information and highlights at the Southwest California Synod’s website and Facebook page, and at Sierra Pacific’s Synod website, Facebook, and this wrap-up newsletter.
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A Time of Remembrance, Thanksgiving, and Reflections for the lives and faith and leadership of:
The Rev. David Walter Preus, Presiding Bishop of the American Lutheran Church, Parish Pastor, Author
The Rev. Dr. Peter Louis Steinke, Parish pastor, Educator, Author, Therapist, Congregational Systems Consultant
The Rev. Walter Martin Wangerin, Jr., Author, Parish Pastor, Professor, Educator, Radio Announcer
Thursday, August 12, 2021, 4:00 p.m. Click here to attend the Zoom.
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Many bishops have had interesting and varied career paths to their current calls. But most of those paths don’t travel through Hollywood. But before entering ministry, she spent 18 years working in production for Warner Bros. Television.
Brenda Bos of Glendale, Calif., was elected June 5 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Southwest California Synod.
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We join the people of the Southwest California Synod as we offer our care and condolences to the family and friends of Mrs. Beverly Anderson, who passed away on Monday, July 12, 2021. We also hold the Rev. J. Roger Anderson, Beverly’s husband and the first Bishop of the Southwest California Synod, in prayer.
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With numerous bishop elections, we’re using this page to keep a running list of newly-elected Bishops in the ELCA.
Brenda Bos elected bishop of ELCA Southwest California Synod
Megan Rohrer elected bishop of ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod
Kevin Jones elected bishop of ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod
Paula Schmitt elected bishop of ELCA Allegheny Synod
Timothy Smith reelected bishop of the ELCA North Carolina Synod
Lee Miller II elected bishop of ELCA Upstate New York Synod
Felix Malpica elected bishop of ELCA La Crosse Area Synod
Dee Pederson elected bishop of ELCA Southwestern Minnesota Synod
Each Friday in February (and one in March), the African Descent pastors of the Southwest California Synod will be offering a podcast in honor of the Black History of the American Lutheran Church. Listen here.
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There are times when events in our nation and world are shocking—we search for words to try to make sense of what we are seeing on television.
As bishops serving in Region 2, we stand united in calling upon elected leaders of all political parties to call for an end to this violence.
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Region 2 bishops and leaders invite all who wish to gather for a time of prayer and reflection to join us as we pray for our nation. These livestream gatherings will be on the Rocky Mountain Synod’s Facebook page, facebook.com/rmselca, Thursday, November 5, 7 pm MST, 6 pm PST, 4 pm HST.
Pastors and deacons are invited to open conversation via ZOOM immediately following the Thursday prayer service. You may register here.
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Region 2 bishops and leaders of the Sierra Pacific, Pacifica, Southwest California, Rocky Mountain and Grand Canyon Synods of the ELCA invite you to gather for a time of prayer and reflection as we pray for our nation, for those seeking office, for God’s beloved community, and for our rostered ministers as they seek to lead in their specific contexts during these conflicted times.
These livestream gatherings will be on the Rocky Mountain Synod’s Facebook page, facebook.com/rmselca at 7 pm MST, 6 pm PST, 4 pm HST on Sunday, November 1 and Thursday, November 5.
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All Faith Community Nurses/Parish Nurses are invited to a Zoom Meet & Greet hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Parish Nurse Association (ELPNA). View PDF flyer.
Tuesday, September 8, 2020, 4:00pm PT & MST, Happy Hour! RSVP for an email Zoom link to glusenkamp@augustanadenver.org.
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Lutheran Disaster Response is actively engaged with Lutheran Social Services of Southern California and three California synods (Pacifica, Sierra Pacific, and Southwest California) to assess the situation and need of affected communities. We expect immediate needs to be food and other supplies, as well as emotional and spiritual care for those impacted by the wildfires.
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We share a letter written by Interim Bishop Murray D. Finck of the Southwest California Synod, addressing the series of fires spreading through California.
“I have worn the shirt pictured above a number of times in the past years…on the island of Kawai; in San Diego; Fallbrook; New Orleans. I want to put this shirt on now and go somewhere where I can be helpful, but today I do not believe that is possible. Instead I have gone to elca.org and made a contribution.”
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The Rev. Murray D. Finck, who previously served three full terms as bishop of the neighboring Pacifica Synod, has accepted appointment to become interim bishop of the Southwest California Synod. He takes over from the Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin, who left office to assume the presidency of United Lutheran Seminary in Pennsylvania. Bishop Finck acted as Bishop Erwin’s official mentor when Erwin was elected bishop in 2013.
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Bishop R. Guy Erwin of the Southwest California Synod preaches in this service of farewell and godspeed. Members of synod staff, synod council and synod congregations lead worship and offer words of blessing.
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The Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin, who was elected in 2013 as the fourth bishop of the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and elected to a second term in 2019, will be leaving the bishopric as of July 31, 2020 and, beginning August 1, will serve United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia, PA as its next president.
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